She's Not Afraid

"These Things Happen"

"These Things Happen" by othgrl3

Sofia stared at the floor of the hospital. Rushing out of the house, they left Birdie with Danny and Daisy. When they got there, Eleanor rushed into Louis' arms informing him that she was okay; she had gotten away with David. David stopped screaming the minute Liam wrapped his arms around him. Eleanor retold of how she had gone into the clothing store, while Danielle and Ella had gone to the bakery. She said how while she was coming out, she noticed Danielle being pulled into an alleyway, and while she ran towards them, she realized that she was holding David in her arms, and her only choice was to run. She quickly called the police, hoping that sirens would stop whatever attack they were under, and then she hid with David behind a near by car. Louis asked why she didn't call them, but Eleanor said it was too late. She could hear them screaming, they needed action and fast. And she was right; the sirens did scare whoever it was off. But, they left both Danielle and Ella in a heap on the alley way ground. Eleanor hadn't gotten an update on either of them yet, just knowing that both were rushed in on stretchers.

Sofia listened to the story, but she didn't look at anyone, she stared at the floor. She could feel Harry's eyes on her. She hadn't said anything, while everyone else asked questions and issued concerns, Sofia stayed quiet, just staring at the floor. Turn it off, she told herself. Turn off the anxiety, turn off the guilt your feeling, turn off the anger, and the need for get revenge. Turn off all your emotions. She continued to stare at the floor, ordering herself not to feel. She wouldn't be able to come at this with a straight head if she didn't turn it off.

"I'm looking for a Payne," the doctor said, walking out.

"That's me," Liam said, standing up.

"No, you're definitely not Sofia," the doctor said, causing Sofia to look up.

"No, but you have my wife back there," Liam said, "So if it's information, it goes to me..."

"You're wife should be okay," the doctor said, sighing, "We actually just finished up with her. She's got some stitches in her head, and her ribs will be sore for a while, but she managed to scrape out all right. It's her friend that you should worry about...."

"Ella," Niall breathed out, stepping towards the doctor, his eyes laced with anxiety.

"She took the majority of the beating," the doctor said, turning to him, "We have to bring her into surgery, a rib broke and popped her lung and her kidney seems to be bleeding. We'll let you know when we know more..."

"Is she going to be okay?" Niall asked, staring at the doctor

"I don't know, sir," the doctor said honestly, "She took a serious beating, and there could be a lot of internal damage. But, that's not why I came out here..."

"Why did you?" Zayn asked

"I'm looking for Sofia Payne," the doctor said, Sofia looked up again.

"That's me," she said. Harry looked at her eyes and he hated what he saw, they made him angry, but importantly, they scared him, they were completely cold. She seemed casual about the entire situation. She didn't flinch once as the doctor explained about Danielle or Ella. She didn't ask any questions and now as she stood for the doctor, Harry would say she even looked slightly bored, if he didn't know her any better.

"This was with the victims," the doctor said, handing her an envelope. Sofia took it from the doctor, and opened it. Pulling out the paper, she read.

"I told you, you would here from him. M." Sofia bit down the urge to scream and cry. She bit down the urge to throw up. She wanted to run into her brothers arms, and cry into Harry's shirt. She wanted to tell Niall how sorry she was, and beg for forgiveness from Danielle. But instead of doing any of this, she looked up at Zayn. He looked at her, his eyes furrowed in curiosity.

Turn it off, she repeated to herself.

"Well, what is it?" Liam asked, Sofia just handed the note to him, before sitting down in the waiting room chair. She watched as the note was passed around, everyone having different reactions. Sofia, however, had none. She just sat there, looking at the floor.

"Well, what now?" Louis asked, as he wrapped his arms tightly around Eleanor.

"Clearly, it isn't like we thought," Eleanor said, "Sofia isn't his only target."

"This is serious," Emily said, her voice rising in pitch.

"No it isn't," Sofia said, causing all of them to look at her in shock and horror, except for Zayn, who didn't really seemed shocked by anything she said.

"Are you kidding me?" Niall hissed, "Ella's in surgery, we don't know if she'll be okay, and it isn't serious?" Sofia rolled her eyes at his emotion, causing his fists to clench.

"What the hell is the matter with you, Sofia?" Eleanor asked, her face concerned.

"I just meant," Sofia snapped, "that he's following the most obvious plan. Warning 1 – James. Warning 2 – Marco. Trying to force my hand, hurting you guys..."

"And that isn't serious?" Harry growled, not quite able to believe how calm and casual she sounded.

"That's not what she meant," Zayn said, "She means, we can guess his next move..."

"How?" Liam snapped, "We haven't been able to yet."

"That's because he hasn't been this obvious yet," Sofia said, "I have two options. I can cave and call him –"

"Not really an option," Harry growled, but Sofia ignored him.

"Or I can sink my feet in. Stand my ground..."

"Also, not working out so well!" Niall growled, "Or are you two busy being a fucking twat to realize that." Sofia looked over at him, and fought back the urge to give him a hug.

"Niall, what happens when you send someone in to get a job done and it doesn't work?" Sofia asked him

"What?" Niall hissed

"What do you do?" Sofia asked, shrugging, "You send someone in to get something done and it doesn't get done. What's your next move?"

"To do it myself," Niall said immediately, and then realization hit his face.

"Warning 1, warning 2, trying to force the hand," Sofia said, "And then, going in yourself..."

"So you think that after this, he's going to try and deal with you himself..." Emily said

"If you want the job done right," Sofia said

"Do it yourself," Louis said, finishing her sentence, "She's right. We don't even have to bait him out, if Sofia doesn't come crawling to him with a deal in the next few days..."

"He'll come out of hiding himself," Liam said, nodding his head, "He'll get sick of trying to force your hand..."

"And instead he'll just drag me out..." Sofia said, quietly.

"But, still," Liam said, "I want everyone on guard. No one goes anywhere alone..."

"You really think he'll go after just her this time?" Eleanor said, "We thought that last time..."

"No, she's right," Liam said, "She's done nothing but piss him off and refuse his offers. His next move won't be a warning or an offer, it'll be an attack."

"A direct attack," Sofia said, "And I'll be ready."


***


"You should go home and rest," Liam said to Danielle. Sofia couldn't look at her. Her nose was swollen, and there was dry blood on her clothes. There were stitches in her head, and it hurt her to breathe.

"No, I want to stay here," Danielle said, "Until we know about Ella..."

"Danielle, you're hurt baby," Liam said, "Come on, everyone else is heading back to the house. I'll stay here with Niall and I will call you when we know something."

"No Liam," Danielle said, shaking her head, tears pouring down her face, "You don't understand..."

"Tell me," Liam said quietly.

"She stood in front of me, Liam," Danielle said, "She didn't let them touch me, she took most of the beating because she was protecting me..."

Sofia bit her lip; of course Ella was protecting Danielle. That's what Ella did, she took care of people and in that moment the only thing she could do was to step in front of the blows and take them for Danielle. Sofia thought back to all those nights in that dark room that Ella would risk her own safety to clean Sofia up. And when they brought her home, she was always looking out for everything. Quietly, but she always made sure everyone was okay. And she never asked for anything in return, because she didn't want anything. She just wanted them, and that meant keeping them safe.

"Niall," Danielle sobbed, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know what to ... I just laid there... I just couldn't...."

"Danielle, don't," Niall said, jumping up from his chair, "I'm just glad your okay. Of course you couldn't do anything. It's alright..."

"We'll take David home," Eleanor said, "He'll be alright for the night I think, if you really want to stay here..."

"I do..." Danielle said quietly.

"My Ella," Niall sighed, moving to sit next to Danielle, "Always taking care of people..."

Danielle cried harder at his words, but before Liam could comfort her, Niall had his arms around Danielle and was holding her. Sofia looked at the scene, it was amazing. Niall was the one who could lose the love of his life, yet here he was comforting Danielle. It struck her then why Niall and Ella worked so well together. They were always in the background, but when it came time to pick up the pieces, they did. They were always there when you needed them the most. Sofia couldn't sit here anymore; she had to get out of here. Standing quickly, she surprised everyone.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, looking up at her.

"I just," Sofia said, "We should go... we aren't any help here... WE would be more helpful at home, doing some work..."

"Sofia, are you sure your alright?" Eleanor asked, standing up to reach out to the girl. Sofia stepped back, afraid that anyone's touch might actually break her.

"Fine," she said, glancing over at Zayn. Harry followed her gaze, and narrowed his eyes at his friend, who no longer looked passive – but he could almost sense guilt, which caused Harry to become even more curious.

"Sofia," Danielle said gently, looking up as Sofia took a step back. Danielle's voice was gentle and concerned, and motherly. Exactly what Sofia didn't want to hear right now.

"Sofia," Danielle said, walking towards her, Liam right behind her, almost as though he was afraid she would get hurt if even an inch away from him, "We don't blame you for this. And I don't want you to blame yourself. It'll be okay."

"I don't blame myself," Sofia said, her voice cold causing Liam to look at her with wide eyes. Danielle and Eleanor both looked at her in concern, as though they didn't know what to make of her. Sofia could barely look at them, with Eleanor being pregnant and Danielle's busted face, she could practically feel the guilt eating at her, but she pushed it down. Everyone's eyes were on her now.

"Sofia, I know you..." Danielle said gently, "And we don't blame you for this..."

"She's right, Sofia," Niall said, looking at her, as though trying to figure her out, "I don't want you to let this get to you... okay?"

"It's not getting to me," Sofia said, her voice calm, "We're in the middle of a fight, these things happen..."

The minute the words left her mouth, she regretted it. Everyone in the room froze. Sofia could feel their eyes, though she couldn't look at them, so she looked past them. The words had come out, naturally almost, and that scared her. But she pushed the fear aside, because if she acknowledged that fear, she would have to acknowledge all of her fears. So, she stared ahead and said nothing, not taking them back and letting the words linger in the air, waiting for someone to speak first.

"What did you just say?" Liam asked, as though he couldn't believe it. These things happen, it was something their father would say every time something went wrong, blowing it off as though it was nothing. Because it the end, it wasn't to him, as long as he won.

"These things happen," Sofia said, she couldn't look at any of them.

"Tell me you didn't actually just say that," Niall hissed, taking a step forward, "These things happen?"

"Sofia, what is wrong with you today?" Eleanor asked.

Harry and Emily didn't say anything, but they glanced at each other, being the two that knew her the best, those words coming out of her mouth scared them more then anything. After sharing their look, they looked up at Zayn, the other person who knew her best, and for once, he was showing emotion too, just as shocked as the rest of them.

"Look," Sofia said, her voice stiff, "I told you I should go, I'm not any help here..." And before anyone could stop her, she was walking down the hallway.

"I'll kill her," Niall spat, trying to chase after her, but Louis stopped him with his hand.

"Don't forget who saved your life Sofia!" Niall called after her, his anger getting the better of him, "But I guess those things happen too!"



***



No one spoke in the car ride home, and the minute they pulled into the driveway, people went their separate ways. Eleanor and Louis went to a guest bedroom with David, trying to get some rest. Sofia disappeared into Liam's office. Harry went to ask Daisy and Danny to take Birdie out for dinner and a movie, hoping to clear her out of the house. And Emily followed Zayn into the pool house, her eyes never leaving him.

"What is going on?" Emily asked, the minute they entered the small home they shared in the back yard.

"What do you mean?" Zayn asked

"With Sofia?" Emily snapped, taking Zayn off guard, "I know you know something..."

"What are you talking about?" Zayn said, feigning confusion.

"Zayn, she has been acting different and you are the only one who doesn't seem the least bit surprised," Emily hissed, her eyes narrowed in anger, "And I want to know what the fuck is going on."

"Don't talk to me like that!" Zayn growled, but Emily shook her head.

"NO!" Emily snapped, "You aren't going to turn this around on me! You know what's going on, and you are going to give me fucking answers! I am not playing around with you, Zayn! Because I've never been so close to hitting you in my life!"

"Emily," Zayn warned, but he could see the fire in her eyes. He had never seen her this angry with him, and he knew that no amount of threats or warnings was going to get her to back off. She was worried about Sofia, as was he, but Emily was confused too.

"What. Is. Going. On. With. Sofia." Emily repeated, her nostrils flaring in anger.

"I'd like to know the same thing," Harry said, surprising them both as he walked into the pool house.

"Harry," Zayn said, his voice wary.

"Don't Harry me," Harry snapped, "You know something. That girl in the hospital, the one that beat the shit out of you in the ring, that's not my fiancé. Where the fuck is my fiancé?"

"Harry, it's still Sofia..." Zayn said, "Don't be dramatic.... It's just.. you know, she... needed..."

"Needed what?" Emily hissed, glaring at him, "Zayn, what happened?"

"She was letting her emotions get in the way!" Zayn exploded, "She wasn't winning fights, because she was too busy thinking about Harry, or Birdie, or hurting me, or her guilt, or her fear... She was drowning in emotion, and it was going to get her killed..."

"What the fuck did you do?" Harry growled, his voice low as his eyes went black.

"I told her to turn it off," Zayn said, "I went full Geoff Payne on her, and told her that she was letting the emotions get the best of her, and that if she wanted to survive, she had to turn them off..."

"Are you crazy?!" Harry yelled out

"Oh my god, Zayn," Emily moaned, "How could you?!"

"Well, I was right!" Zayn defended, "In a fight, she can't be worried about all the shit, she's got to be in the game!"

"So you told her to turn it off and that nothing else matters but to win?" Emily spat, "And that it was that mind set that was going to keep her alive?"

"Yes," Zayn said, swallowing hard.

"Do you know how fucking stupid you are?" Harry spat out, charging towards Zayn.

"Harry, I was trying to get her ready for the fight of her life!" Zayn hissed, as Harry grabbed him by the collar, "She is smarter and more on when she turns it off... she's got a better chance, even if she is a bit of a bitch."

"A bit of a bitch?" Harry hissed, "You think that's the problem?!" Harry released him, shoving him hard; "You think I'm angry because she's been a bit moody? YOU FUCKING TWAT! I COULD KILL YOU!"

"Me first," Emily hissed, glaring at Zayn.

"I was doing what I thought would help her survived," Zayn growled

"Zayn, she has survived her whole life," Emily spat out, "Do you know what kind of monster you just woke up?!"

"Zayn, she bottles this stuff up," Harry hissed, "And she cracks. And it comes out in the most self destructive, dangerous ways. Do you not remember how dangerous she was?"

"THAT'S MY POINT!" Zayn exploded, "SHE NEEDS TO BE DANGEROUS!"

"TO HERSELF, ZAYN!" Harry screamed, slamming his body against the wall again, "DO YOU NOT REMEMBER HOW DANGEROUS SHE WAS TO HERSELF?!"

"I didn't think," Zayn choked out, as the guilt of what he had done hit him, "I didn't think she would take it so far. I thought we could keep it in the ring..."

"You thought you could re-open how she was trained and that she would keep it in check?" Emily growled, "It's like you don't even know her... come on, Zayn!"

"Listen to me," Harry hissed, "If I can't get her to see reason, and she cracks. Or she does something stupid. Or I loose her completely. I will murder you, Zayn."

"Harry..." Zayn croaked out, as he realized just how far off the deep end Sofia could potentially go.

"You're training sessions with my fiancé," Harry hissed, his eyes in slits he was so angry, "and the potential mother to that four year old who has no one, yeah, they're off."

"Harry, please..." Zayn said, "I can get her in check... but, I can also keep her alive..."

"I CAN KEEP HER ALIVE, ZAYN!" Harry yelled, "And I don't fucking trust you, anymore." The words sliced Zayn like a knife. Harry always looked to Zayn for back up when it came to Sofia, they were always on the same page. To hear Harry say he didn't trust him, it made Zayn feel sick. "You have been working her like a dog, and training her back into a fucking robot...."

"I've been going hard on her, because she needs to be able to kick my ass and win..." Zayn argued.

"You want your ass kicked so bad?" Harry spat, "I can do that. And trust me when I say, I will do that if you come near her with any intentions of training her again." Harry released him, before storming out of the pool house, leaving Zayn in shock behind him. Zayn looked at Emily, who looked just as pissed.

"Em..." he tried

"Don't!" she snapped, holding her hand up, "I may be little, Zayn. But I'm pretty sure I could kick your ass into next year right now..."

"Emily, please... I was just trying to help..." Zayn said, his voice quiet.

"I don't get it..." Emily said, shaking her head at him.

"Don't get what? Me trying to help her win?" Zayn asked, straightening up a little.

"I don't get how you could damage something you worked so hard to fix in the first place," Emily said, tears in her eyes, "She could've been powerful back then, but she didn't care. She was numb. And you worked so hard to give her normality and to make her a human instead of a robot..."

"I didn't think it would go to her head like this," Zayn said.

"This is Sofia," Emily said, "You gave her the choice of feeling scared,
and worried, and anxious, and sad, and angry, and guilty – all things she should be feeling, because it's healthy! And the choice to ignore those feelings. What did you think she was going to do?"

"I thought she would find a balance," Zayn said, "Like I said, I thought I could keep it in the ring. I meant, the fight in the ring..."

"Except, the fight you were training her for, isn't in the ring," Emily snapped at him, "It's her life. And now she might very well believe this is how she has to survive, with the mindset of, 'these things happen.' That's just great, Zayn. That doesn't sound dangerous at all..."

"Fuck," Zayn whispered to himself.

"By the way," Emily said, turning from him, "You can sleep on the couch tonight."



***


Sofia found herself exactly where she always did when she was trying to fight off emotions. By drowning them out, in alcohol. The club music blasted behind her, as she stood at the bar. Still wondering how the hell she made it out of the house without getting caught, she took another shot. She wondered if anyone had noticed by now, and how much of a panic she was sending them into. She wondered about Sikes. She wondered about Ella, and Niall. And how Danielle was holding up, and how much Liam was thinking about her. She was thinking about all of them, and she was trying to drown out all of the emotion she was feeling for all of them. Because, at the end of the day, her feeling guilty or sad or anxious or angry or revengeful wasn't going to help them. Crying or screaming wasn't going to keep anyone alive. So, there was no point in it. So, she just numbed herself even more, taking two more shots, and raising her hand for more.

"What's a pretty lady like you buying herself drinks?" a man said, sliding up beside her.

"I would let you buy them for me," Sofia said, grinning, "But you'd probably want something like a blow job or a quick fuck in return, and uh, there's no way in hell..." His face quickly contorted into anger.

"You think you're something, little girl?" the man growled, "I could make you yell so loud. You'd whimper beneath me..."

"Believe me when I tell you," Sofia slurred, "Even in my very drunk stupor, you would not be the one causing the yelling. Or the whimpering for that matter..."

"Yeah?" the man said, straightening up, "You want to bet? I'll make you whimper right now..." he grabbed her wrist, pulling her up off the bar stool.

"Get off of me," Sofia said, her voice lazy as she rolled her eyes. The man laughed at her, his grip getting tighter.

"Not so tough now, are you?" he growled

"I don't want to hurt you," Sofia said, bored, looking up at him.

"You're kidding, right?" he asked

"She isn't," a voice said, causing the man to jump, "And neither am I when I say if you don't get your hands off my sister, I'll cut them off..."

Sofia looked up at Liam who was standing there, Harry right behind him. The man immediately let go of her wrist, and moved backwards into the crowd.

"Oh look," Sofia said, feigning surprise, "It's my brother and my fiancé..."

"What the fuck do you think your doing?" Harry growled, as he grabbed her by the wrist.

"Do you know how worried we've been?" Liam snapped

"Relax," Sofia said, her voice slurring.

"How drunk are you?" Harry snapped, forcing her to look up at him.

"Fucking smashed," she snapped back, trying to return to her bar stool, but Harry was too fast, and soon Sofia was stumbling as he yanked her through the crowd, Liam right behind them. Sofia didn't bother trying to fight Harry, as he pulled her out onto the street, and towards the car.

"Uh, I'll see you at home?" Liam asked, staring at his sister.

"Yeah, I got it from here," Harry said, his voice tight. Sofia rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Liam snapped, stomping up to her, "Don't forget who taught you everything you know... I wouldn't get too cocky, Sofia. We have the same father, the same background. I can put you back in your place faster then you can blink." Sofia inhaled sharply, her façade faltering quickly, which Liam caught.

"This isn't the way handle this, and you know it," Liam said, his voice sad and more gentle as he looked down at her, "You're better then this."

Harry threw Sofia into the passenger seat of his car, Sofia hissed at how hard he shoved her in. He went around to the other side, getting in the drivers seat. Sofia didn't even look at him, looking out the window instead. Harry reached over, buckling her seat belt for her. She glanced at him, causing him to shake his head at her.

"Fucking bar," Harry hissed, his voice shaking in anger, "How do you want to explain that one to Birdie?"

"Is she even awake?" Sofia snapped

"No, but if she wakes up," Harry hissed, "I'm sure it'll be awful, when it's not us she sees... that's just fucking great...." Sofia felt a pang in her heart at the realization that Birdie could wake up, and she wouldn't be there, "Are you thinking about anyone besides yourself these days?"

Sofia didn't say anything, she just let Harry drive erratically She didn't really know what to say, and he wasn't offering up conversation topics.

"You're better then that," she finally spat out, in her drunken haze, "What the fuck does that even mean? What's he on about? I'm not better then anything, this is exactly how my father thought I would turn out like..."

Sofia was surprised, when Harry pulled over into the nearby park, his tires screeching. He slammed the door, walking around to her side, and yanking her out.

"What are you doing?" Sofia hissed, trying to pull away from him.

"You're father?" Harry spat, "Who gives a fuck about what your father thought!? He's not here!"

"That's nice of you," Sofia hissed, as Harry dragged her over to a park bench, "Reminding me of that..."

"You know who is here?" Harry spat out at her, as he turned around so face her, she could see just how upset he was. "I'm here! Liam's here! Danielle is here! Eleanor and Louis and Niall! We're all here! Why don't you try giving a fuck what we think...."

Sofia didn't have time to think, because Harry flipped her over his knee. She should've seen this coming, but she didn't because she was too drunk. The dress she had worn was quickly pulled up, and Harry was assaulting her ass. She wiggled beneath him, squirming.

"Sofia, I swear to God," Harry growled down at her, his voice stern and dominate, "I am so ready to beat you senseless, or rather, beat sense into you.. you don't want to test me...If you think I won't restrain you, you are sadly mistaken or drunkenly stupid. Stop moving, you know better."

"Fuck!" Sofia cried out, when he hit her on her top thigh. "Harry, stop it! We're in a park, someone could hear!"

"Like I give a fuck," Harry growled, he waited for her tears to start, hoping to catch some emotion from her, but she didn't cry out. He didn't hear her sniffle, and she was still fighting him by squirming on his knee. But, Harry didn't care, he just kept smacking her, hoping that she was feeling something, anything, even if it was the physical sting on skin on skin. She fought him hard, but eventually he wore her down, and she collapsed, taking it. And when she did, he ripped her off his knee, he placed her in front of him, she yanked down her dress quickly.

"You're fought me," he said, he voice catching, but his voice still stern, and his eyes still angry.

"What?" Sofia spat out

"You fought me..." Harry hissed, "Something you said you never did. Why?"

She froze at his question. Why did fight him. She knew when she went out, this is where she would end up. Granite, she didn't think it'd be in a park. But she knew Harry would come find her, and he would tear into her. In fact, in a lot of ways, that was her hope for tonight. Harry thought he was punishing her for going to a bar and getting piss drunk, but he was punishing her for getting her family hurt today. Sofia couldn't acknowledge the pain she was feeling in her heart, but she could concentrate on the stinging of her skin. This was exactly what she wanted, so why was she fighting him? She didn't say anything, she just stared at him.

Harry noticed that she wasn't saying anything, he could tell she was in the process of turning everything off again. He had to stop her, get her to feel before she could do it. Even if drunk, Sofia was thinking about how to turn in off, her guard wasn't down. Harry didn't want to tell her like this, but he went for the one thing that might be painful enough to here, it would break all her walls.

"Ella had serious internal bleeding," Harry said quietly, staring at her. Sofia's face scrunched up, surprised that that was what he had to say, "We heard from Niall..."

"Is she okay?" Sofia asked, her voice quiet

"She'll be alright," Harry said, "But she took a lot of kicks to the stomach... and there was serious bleeding..."

"And?" Sofia asked

"They had to take out her uterus, Sofia...." Harry said, "Ella won't ever be able to have babies."

That was it. That was the last straw. The wail that came out of Sofia's mouth was so desperate, it hurt Harry to hear. He reached for her, and expected her to pull away from him, but instead she collapsed into his arms. Everything that Sofia had been holding back came rushing out of her. The idea that Ella, the woman who could care for anyone, wouldn't be able to care for her own child tore Sofia apart. The idea that Niall would never be able to have a child, made Sofia sick.

"Oh my god, oh my god," she sobbed, "Why did you tell me that?" she shrieked, pulling away from Harry.

"Because you need to feel this!" Harry yelled, "You need to feel, Sofia! Being numb and cold is not the answer!"

"This is my fault," Sofia hissed, "I don't want to feel that!"

"This isn't your fault," Harry barked, "This is Sikes! But you turning into him or your father isn't going to help anybody!"

"I can beat him, Harry!"

"AT WHAT COST?!" Harry's voice boomed, causing Sofia to jump.

"What?" Sofia croaked out

"At what cost, Sofia?" Harry hissed, "At the cost of your family? At the cost of Niall and Ella? And acting like Ella's sacrifice was just some means to an end?" Sofia let out a small sob, realizing that he was right, that she had treated what happened to Ella as some stepping stone to beating Sikes, when really it had changed Ella's entire future.

"We have a four year old, Sofia," Harry said quietly, trying to get her to see why she couldn't keep living like this, "You brought home this beautiful four year old girl, and I fell in love with her. As much as I love you. And we need to think about her. We have to put her first. Are you putting her first? Because she is someone who loves you, more then anything, and we love her, and we can be a family. But, not like this. She's been through enough, I won't put her through this too. I know your love for her must trump this bullshit you've been pulling. Right?"

"I'm so sorry," Sofia said, sobs wracking her body as she listened to Harry tak about Birdie. Just a few weeks ago, it was exactly what she wanted to hear. That they could be a family. But, really, what kind of family could they be if this was how she was going to go about things. It made Sofia ill to realize how selfish she had been with the people she loved the most. "I just... wanted to survive. I wanted us to survive."

"We didn't each other how to survive, Sofia," Harry said, "We taught each other how to live..."

"You're right," Sofia said, tears still sliding down her face. Harry wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him, hoping that he had just pulled her back from the edge, even if she was in serious pain.



***



Niall looked up from the hospital chair as the door opened, his eyes narrowing a bit as he saw Sofia walk in. She bit the inside of her cheek as she saw his expression. She ignored her headache from the massive hangover, and how awful she felt in general and stepped into the room.

"Niall... I...." she started

"Save it," he said, "Did someone beat some sense into you?"

"Harry," Sofia answered quickly

"Then it doesn't matter," Niall said shaking his hand, and pointing to the seat next to him. Sofia sighed in relief, as she sat next him, grabbing his hand. She looked at Ella who was lying in the hospital bed, covered in bruises and stitches. Her eyes closed, and she looked peaceful, Sofia could only hope she wasn't feeling pain.

"How is she?" Sofia asked

"Alright," he said quietly, "She'll be out in a few days, the pain medicine from the surgery just knocked her out, that's all..."

"Niall... I'm so sorry," Sofia said, "I know that this comes down to me, and I'm so sorry that Ella got hurt..."

"Don't go blaming yourself," Niall said, shaking his head, amazing Sofia again as she looked at him.

"I could've stopped this," Sofia whispered

"Sofia, you handing yourself over to him wouldn't have done anybody any good," Niall said, "It wasn't an option. And we made that decision. We knew that it could create disaster, and it did..."

"Niall," Sofia cried, tears streaming down her face, "I want you know that if I could, I would switch places with her..."

"Don't say that!" Niall said, "She wouldn't want you to say that..."

"It should've been me who took that beating," Sofia said, "And we both know it..."

"Stop it," a voice whispered hoarsely, surprising both Niall and Sofia.

"Ella," Sofia cried, grabbing her hand

"Sofia, you've taken enough beatings..." Ella said, quietly, "I remember..."

"You cleaned me up from everyone..." Sofia said, looking over at Niall who couldn't take his eyes off of Ella.

"This isn't your fault, Sofia," Ella said, "And I'm going to be okay..."

"But, you should be able to have babies..." Sofia cried.

"There's more then one way to have babies, Sofia," Ella said, smiling, "I think Birdie is proof of that."

"I'm sorry," Sofia croaked out, but Ella just smiled at her.

"For what?" Ella asked, "For bringing me into this family? Sofia this was the fist beating I took that meant something..."

"What?" Sofia asked

"I was protecting my family," Ella said, "I'll never regret doing that. And, you were the one who taught me about family. All those beatings you took, because you wouldn't sell them out. They all meant something, this meant something...."

"Maybe you should remember that," Niall said, looking over at Sofia with a knowing look. Sofia looked at the floor in shame.

"Your dad was training a gang," Niall said, as he grabbed Ella's hand, "But we are more then that, we're family. And that means something."

"It means everything," Ella said, from her spot in the bed. Sofia cried at how perfect they were. Both of them being so kind and understanding, even after what she had put them through. There was no anger or resentment, just hope and compassion and empathy. These were the people Sofia should be striving to be, they weren't cowards or soft, they faced the world and life head on. They just did it with grace and love, something that her father and William Sikes missed out on.

"Can I do anything for you?" Sofia asked, looking at them both.

"Yes," Ella said, "Life is short, Sofia. It's too short not to live it the way you want. So I want you to live your life how YOU want, whatever the means..."

"Don't wait," Niall said, "Don't wait, Sofia. Because things can change in an instant."

The words hit Sofia like a ton of bricks, but instead of being crushed by them, she shot up from her chair, surprising both Niall and Ella. She ran from the room, frantically looking down the hall, where she saw everyone sitting, waiting for their turn to visit.

"Harry!" Sofia called, running towards him. He shot up from his chair, as did everyone else, looking concerned.

"Sofia? What's wrong?" he cried, his voice concerned.

"Nothing, nothing," she said, as she looked up at him, her eyes wild.

"Sofia, what is going on?" he asked

"I want to marry you," Sofia said, causing Harry to furrow his eyebrows and do a double take.

"Are you alright?" Louis asked from beside them, "Did you hit your head?"

"I want to marry you," Sofia repeated, looking at Harry and ignoring Louis.

"I know," Harry said, "That's why this ring is on your finger..." he held her hand up in front of her face; looking at her like she was crazy.

"No," Sofia said, shaking her head, "I want to marry you, now."

"What?" Harry gasped; his was followed by a few others.

"I don't want to wait," Sofia said, "I want us to get married, now."